The Substitute Mate

“I don’t understand.” I said, taking an instinctive step back. Alpha Austin turned to me and clasped his hands behind him, his hair falling in waves to his shoulder. I was finding it hard to concentrate on both him and the impending doom I sensed coming, and I felt torn between just basking in his allure or trying to defend myself.

He took a step closer to me. “You have the Alpha’s seal. It is in your possession.”

I saw Lily’s lips curve up in a smile.

“I do not have any such thing. I just…I don’t even know what the alpha’s seal looks like.”

He laughed heartily. “Lily, father will miss us at the ceremony. You can go back”

I watched as Lily came to front of me, then smiled and then deliberately hit my shoulder as she walked away.

Alpha Austin tied up his hair in man bun, then titled his head to the side as her footsteps faded away. We were now alone, and it was even more terrifying.

“Are you saying you don’t have the alpha’s seal?”

“I really don’t, alpha. I don’t even know it.” I said, my voice cracking. He came closer to me, and nodded. I could see the proud gait in his eyes and the way he held his head up, and It made me even more awed by him.

“Check your bag.” He said simply, as his eyes darted from my face to the small bag.

I immediately brought it in front of me and opened it. He dipped his hand into it, and then came out with a small gold tab that was shaped into a wolf. He smiled.

“This is the alpha’s seal.”

I honestly didn’t know how it got into my back or what brought it there. I had no idea it was even in my back.

“I didn’t…I swear..”

“No need to swear. I know you knew nothing of it.”

He leaned back and straightened. “Lily was the one who reported you. She said she saw you take the alpha’s seal. I also know she and her omega boyfriend broke up because of you.”

He didn’t need to say any more. Lily framed me.

“What…could have happened if you didn’t know?”

“You would probably become a rogue, or even become lower than an omega.”

I felt my body tremble slightly in fear.

“But I can get you out of all of that.” He raised a brow.

“What do you want in return?”

“You are smart. I like it.”

The ceremony was in full force by the time went back, my hair falling over the sides of my neck, and my hair lowered.

“Hey, where were you?” Simon asked, just as the announcement started.

“If you can scent the alpha, do come up. The alpha will confirm if he can scent you.” The announcer started. It was a way of finding mates, by scenting them. If you could scent a wolf without coming too close, it meant both of you were mates. Most wolf scents were obscure from the others except if they had shifted to their wolves.

I turned around without answering Simon as Catherine stood and went to the elevated stand. Austin was by the side. A small wine cup dangling from his long fingers.

I smiled at Simon and started to walk forward.

“Where are you going?” Simon asked immediately I started walking, but I didn’t stop to answer him. If I did, I will chicken out of this and the consequences will be even bigger.

I walked forward till I felt the heat of the fires and the brightness of the lights around the stage.

“An omega?” Catherine said right next to me and I bit the inside of my cheeks.

“I can scent the alpha.” I said, then opened my eyes. I could see alpha Austin’s smile, and his dark eyes. Hell.

F*.

“It’s simple. Take the place of my mate.”

“Take the place of your mate?” I asked, my heart pace quickening. I felt like I would fall real fast to the ground and never get up. My knees felt weak, my body trembling. Up until this afternoon, he had only been a distant dream and now he was offering himself to me?

“Yes. I made a promise to myself. One I am never going to break. Catherine can already scent me. I want you to say that you can too. After all, the choice is up to me.”

“But I can’t…” I didn’t finish the sentence when he suddenly pulled me to his body, and buried his face in my neck. I could feel his breath on my neck, and my breath stopped in my throat, my body shaking from his proximity.

I could now scent him. Pine. It was the most prominent.

I thought he would let me go after that, but I suddenly felt his teeth dig into my neck, his hand pressing on my waist and he pulled my body close to his, till there was no distance between us. Till we were almost one.

I had to stifle the gasp that almost left my lips as he finally drew blood. I was marked. But I wasn’t his mate.

He suddenly let go of me, and then smiled down at me and kicked his lips. Hell, I wanted to go back to his arms immediately.

“You are now marked by me. And you are now…for me. I know your scent too.”

Catherine looked at me with disgust in her eyes then turned away. I am sure she was confident about being his mate, but she didn’t know. Nothing beats an alpha’s rage.

“What proof do you have, omega?” The grand alpha asked.

I raised my hair, and the fresh mark was under spotlight. “I was able to follow my scent to who I thought would be omega and my mate, but it led me up to alpha Austin.”

Tears filled my eyes as I saw Simon’s surprised look.

“He confirmed that I was his mate, and marked me.”

The grand Alpha turned to Alpha Austin who was smiling.

“Confirm it.”

Alpha Austin stood and walked up, passing by Catherine. She gasped as he passed by and I was sure his scent was choking her by now.

He came to me and leaned close to my ear. “What is your name, again?”

“Hazel.” I whispered back, and he turned away.

“This is Hazel. My mate.”